Madison Keys is the new champion of the Australian Open. The 29-year-old American did the unthinkable and dethroned the current two-time champion Aryna Sabalenka after 6-3, 2-6, 7-5. The battle between the two on the Center Court lasted just over two hours.
Keys demonstrated from the very beginning that she did not accidentally reach the final, after she saved a match point in the semi-finals and stopped the second racket in the world Iga Swiatek. She broke Sabalenka in the first service game of the Belarusian and made another break for a 5-1 lead. The world number 1 returned one of the two breaks, but she couldn't do more and after a third break Keys deservedly took the lead in the result. In the second set, however, the roles were reversed. Sabalenka pressed and after 6-2 the entered into a third decisive set. There the fight between the two was fierce. Keys waited for her moment in the 12th game and after some excellent shots, she celebrated her debut Grand Slam title.
In 2017, she lost the all-American final of the US Open to Sloane Stephens. With her victory, Keys will climb to seventh place in the rankings next week.
"I can't help but cry, for which I apologize in advance. Thank you Aryna for the kind words. Incredible tennis, you are always so hard to beat. I wish your team many more titles. Thank you to everyone who came here and watched us live. This is my most unforgettable tournament, this title was possible thanks to you. Thanks to all the sponsors and organizers, to my team. I dreamed of this trophy for so long, I didn't know I would get a second chance. They continued to believe in me. I had very difficult moments with injuries. I hope to see you next year", Keys said after the final.
Sabalenka, for her part, failed to achieve a hat-trick of titles in Melbourne and become the first woman in the new century with three consecutive Australian Open trophies. The Belarusian world number 1 remains at the top of the women's rankings after the tournament - she has three Slam titles in her collection - in addition to the two in Australia, she also triumphed in New York last year.
"Madison, it's really amazing. You showed incredible spirit, you will lift the trophy quite deservedly. I sincerely congratulate you and your loved ones. I just want to thank everyone who helped make this tournament happen, my entire team. It's no coincidence that I'm showing my best tennis right here. The atmosphere was amazing. I think we did a good job, Madison was just too strong", Sabalenka said after the match. | BGNES
